Honor Our Veterans

As I was out of the country I was unable to attend last week's Veterans Day Remembrance ceremony on Upper Parade. I understand that our guest speaker, Col. Steven P. Carney, USA, NU 82 and professor of military science, gave an inspiring talk about the role veterans have played in preserving the freedoms we enjoy.

I would like to use today's column to write about the significant holiday of Veterans Day. Veterans Day, formerly known as Armistice Day, was originally set as a U.S. legal holiday to honor the end of World War I, which officially took place on Nov. 11, 1918. In legislation that was passed in 1938, Nov. 11 was dedicated to the cause of world peace and to be hereafter celebrated and known as "Armistice Day."

As such, this new legal holiday honored World War I veterans. In 1954, after having been through World War II and the Korean War, the 83rd U.S. Congress, at the urging of the veterans service organizations, amended the Act of 1938 by striking out the word "Armistice" and inserting the word "Veterans." With the approval of this legislation on June 1, 1954, Nov. 11 became a day to honor American veterans of all wars.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are 23.2 million military veterans in the United States. Of this number, 9.2 million are age 65 or older, and 1.9 million are younger than 35. There are 1.8 million female veterans. There are 2.3 million black veterans; 1.1 million Hispanic veterans; 276,000 Asian veterans; 160,000 American Indian or Alaska Native veterans; and 27,000 are Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander veterans. They are spread out across the country. Five states have a million or more veterans.

Veterans come from all walks of life. They are your parents, aunts, uncles, brothers, sisters, friends and neighbors. They are part of your community. While it is wonderful to have a special holiday dedicated to our veterans, we do not need to wait for Veterans Day or a holiday to show our appreciation for these brave men and women who put their lives on the line for our freedom.

As you reflect on all that you have to be thankful for next week, I hope that you will again take a moment to think about our veterans, as well as the active military personnel currently serving the country. And when you see them throughout the year, let them know that their commitment, service, and sacrifice to our nation are appreciated every day. A simple "thank you for your service" means a great deal.